Parallel-motion device for embroidering-machines.



M. SOHOENFELD.

PARALLEL MOTION DEVICE FOR EMBROIDERING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APRLIZ, 1912.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

' it may be said that the operating 40 tambour frame is not of a veryheavy con- MORRIS SCHOENFELD, OF 1303301318011, SWITZERLAND.

PARALLEL-MOTION DEVICE FOR EMBROIDEBING-MAQEINES.

Specification of Letters IPatent.

Patented Feb. 2, 19150 Application filed April 1a, 1912. Serial no.690,243.

To all whom it 121 ag concern Be it known that 1, Morris SCHOENFELD, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Rorschach, in the Cantonof St. (aall, Switzerland, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Parallel- Motion Devices for Embroidering-Machines, ofwhich the following is a specifica tion.

My invention relates to an improved device for controlling the movementsof the tambour in embroidering machines of the very large type. In thelarge type of embroidering machine the tambour frame usually consists ofa rectangular steel frame and in the late forms of machine such tambourframes have attained a length of thirty feet and a height of five or sixfeet; and as this frame has to be moved at each operation of the machinein order to produce the desired design upon the fabric supported by thetambour frame, the latter must be made as light as possible. In makthetambour frame light enough and long enough for practical purposes itbecomes subject to distortion and vibration when being rapidly movedfrom one position to another for the different stitch positions and thevibration and distortion interferes with the production of accuratework. The tambour frame is supported in a vertical plane and isgenerally moved from one p0- sition to another in its vertical planeofmovement either by a pantograph or j acquard and the force for movingthe tambour frame is usually applied at one end of the latter andusually atone corner thereof; so force is applied at one point of thetambour frame rather than throughout its length. If the struction theapplication of. the operating force to one portion only of the framecauses slight distortion of the frame during the rapid movements thereofand this affects the quality of the work. It is necessary for thetambour frame to move in parallelism throughout its length and anydistortion even to the extent of a fraction of an inch causes seriousdefects in the work.

The object of my present invention is to provide a parallel motiondevice for causing the tambour frame to move in proper parablelism whenthe operating force for moving the frame is applied to one pointthereof; and while the same may be used for vertical stitch are sectors11 an various stitching mechanisms have been omitted, Fig. 2, is anenlarged detail, showing parts of the device in elevation, Fig. 3, is asectional view showing the parts contained in Fig. 2, in plan, Fig. 4,is a plan view of operating straps, and Fig. 5, is a sectional viewtaken on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, I have shown end standards 1 and 2, forming part of thestationary frame of an ordinary embroidering machine. The tambour frame7, is shown as a rectangular frame consisting of upper and lowerhorizontal bars 6 and 5, connected at their ends by vertical bars 3 and4, to form a rigid, movable frame. This tambour frame is provided withextended brackets 22 shown as projecting outwardly and oppositely fromthe upper corners of the frame, and these brackets rest upon the sectors21, which are part of a rocking member comprising the arms 19 and a hubfulcrumed upon the pin 20. The latter are arranged upon one end of thearms 17 forming part o f'a rocking member, consisting of a hub '18 andradial spokes 10. These rocking members are arranged to rock upon theshafts 9, supported upon the brackets 8, on each'of the end standards 1and 2, of the stationary-frame. On the spokes 10 there 13 and 15. Thestrap 13, is connected at its opposite ends to the sectors 11 by thescrews 14; so that the strap has a rolling contact with the sectors. Thestrap 15, is' 'connected with the sectors 12, by means of the screws 16and en ages in a similar manner over sectors 12. Fixtending outwardlyfrom one of the rocking members I have provided an arm 23, connectedwith or forming part of one of the rocking members; and the outer end ofwhich is provided with a link 24 supporting a movable weight 25. Thismechanism constitutes an ordinary 12 opposite each other, over whichengageflexible straps or bands counterbalancing and parallel motiondevice used upon embroidering machines. hen the tamhour frame is movedup or down the weight 25, moves accordingly, and the rocking of the arms17, causes the sectors 21., to remain in continual contact with thebrackets 22, so that the weight of the turnbour frame 'will becounterbalanced in its dilferent positions by means of the movableweight By reason of the connection of the rocking members. through thestraps 13 and 1.5, both rocking members must move in unison and therebythe tambour frame is caused to mo e in vertical parallelism.

\Vhen the tambour frame is moved longi tudinally however, the sectors21, rock upon their shafts 20 so that the longitudinal movements of thetambour frame effects no other change in the parallel motion device justdescribed. This parallel motion device only controls the verticalmovement of the tambour frame while my improved mcchanism is adapted'tocontrol its horizontal movement, which is of equal, if not of greaterimportance, since the tambour frame is much longer than it is high. Thepreferred form of my invention for controlling the horizontal movementof the frame consists of the following.

.Upon the standards 1 and .2, of the stationary frame I have providedbrackets 28, which form journal sockets for the upright shafts 29 and29, arranged at each end of the machine; and these shafts are preferablymovable vertically in the brackets 28. Extending upwardly from thestationary standards. I have provided supporting members 26 which havebrackets 2? corresponding to the brackets 28 and they also form journalsockets for t'he'shafts 29, and '29 respectively. At different points ofthe height of the tambour frame and at each end thereof I provide meansfor operating and adapted to be operated by the shafts 29 and 29 so thatany movement applied to one end or any portion of the tambour frame,will be accurately transmitted to the other end thereof. For thispurpose I have provided near the lower corners of the tambour framebrackets having parallel plates 31, between which pinions 30 on theshafts 29 and 29, engage. The pinions 30 are fast upon the shafts 29 and29 and they mesh with racks 32 horizontally disposed and forming part ofthe brackets 31. To the upper corners of the tambour frame andpreferably arranged upon extended brackets 35,-1 have provided brackets31 in all respects similar to those at the lower corners of the frameand racks 32 on these brackets mesh with pinions 30 also arrangedbetween the bars 31. Preferably at their upper ends the shafts 29 and 29are provided with fixed pulleys 36 over the peripheries of which engagesa metallic band or strap 38 having its ends secured to the pulleys 36,by

means of the screws 40. The other metal strap or band 37 engages aroundthe peripheries of the pulleys 36, in a reverse direction, and its endsare also secured to the pulleys by means of screws 39.

The operating force for moving the tambour frame may be applied theretoby any \vell known means and in order to illustrate the operation of mydevice I have shown the tambour frame connected with a mechanism such asthat shown in United States patent to Joseph A. Groebli, Number 528632and dated November 6th, 1894. lhe longitudinally movable beams ll and432, controlled by the jacquard mechanism shown in the said patent, areprovided respectively with the angular guides 43 and 44:. In thechannels of the guides 13 and all engages a roller or pintle 4-5 carriedat one end or'corner of the tanibour frame. By the movement of the beams41 and 42, through the mechanism shown in said patent the tambour frameis moved in any direction Within its vertical plane of movement.

Operation: When the operating force is applied to the tambour frame bythe jacquard mechanism, or any other device used for that purpose, theoperating force directly affects one end of the tambour frame andgenerally but one corner thereof. Or-' dinarily the operating forceapplied to one end or corner of the tambour frame is trans mittedthrough the metal of the tambour frame itself to cause the latter tomove throughout its length. In the present case however if it be assumedthat the tambour frame in Fig. 1, is moved horizontally to the right,the operating force applied at one end of the tambour frame will causethe plates 31, on the left end of the frame to reciprocate relative tothe shaft .29 and the 4 movement of the racks 32, relative to thepinions 30 will cause the shaft 29 to revolve, according to the extentof longitudinal movement imparted to the end of the tambour frame. Suchrevolving motion transmitted through the shaft 29* and its pulley 36 tothe straps 38 and 37, will cause a similar rotative movement of equalextent in the shaft 29 through its pulley 36. The rotation of the shaft29 in the above manner will cause through its pinions 30 and racks 32, asimilar horizontal movement to be imparted tothe right hand end of thetambour frame; which movement will be equal in extent and similar indirection to that im parted to the left hand end of the tambour I frame.Since the tambour frame at the left hand end is connected through theracks 32 and pinions 30 at both top and bottom, the tambour frame mustmove in equal extent at the top and bottom thereof; and this is alsotrue of the opposite end of the tambour frame. As the rotation of theshaft 29 caused by the movement imparted to one end of the tambour frameis accurately transmitted through the straps 37 and 38 to the shaft 2i)and thence to the tambour frame at the opposite end, all parts of thetambour frame will move in equal eX- tent in a horixrmtal direction eventhough the structure of the tambour frame is comparatively light. Byusing the straps 37 and 58' and transmitting the operating forcelongitudinally of their length there is no chance for distortion aswould be the case if the movement were transmitted longitudinally of themachine by a long shaft which would be subject to tortional stresses. Ifa vertical movement is imparted to the tambour frame, or any movementwhich in cludes a vertical movement, the brackets 31, moving as a partof the tambour frame, will act upon the pinions 3 and cause the shafts2D and 29 to move up or down, as the case may be, in their journalbrackets 27 and 28, so that in whatever vertical position the tambourframe mav be the pinions 30, will always mesh with their racks 32. Fromthe above it will be apparent that any operating force imparted to thetambour frame for causing the horizontal movement thereof will, throughthe parallel motion device herein act with equal effect upondifferentparts of the length of the tambour frame without distorting thelatter and without causing vibration thereof. The vertical movement ofthe tambour frame will always be in parallelism by reason of theordinary parallel motion device which is described herein and theoperation ofv the same may be independent of, and not affect ed by myimproved parallel motion device.

Having described my invention, what I claim is I 1. in an embroideringmachine, a movable tambour frame and a parallel motion device therefor,comprising shafts. each connected with the tambour frame at differentvertical distances from the bottom thereof, said shafts being connectedwith the tambour frame at or near opposite ends thereof and adapted tocause movements in the tambour frame and to be revolved by the movementsof said frame, and means connecting said shafts to cause them to move inunison whereby movements of one portion of the tambour frame will beaccurately-produced in other portions thereof.

2. In an embroidering machine, a movable tambour frame and a parallelmotion device therefor, comprising shafts, each connected with thetambour frame at different vertical distances from the bottom thereof,said shafts being connected with the tambour frame at or near oppositeends thereof and adapted to cause movements in the tambour frame and tobe revolved by the latter, and a strap or band connecting said shaftsand arranged to operate in the direction of its length to cause theshafts to move in unison whereby movement of one end of the tambourframe will be accurately produced at the opposite end.

5. in an embroidering machine, a movable tarnbour frame, and a parallelmotion device therefor, ernnprising upright shafts, each connected withthe tambour frame at different vertical distances from the bottomthereof, said shafts being connected at or near the opposite ends of thetambour frame and adapted to be operated by the latter, a pulley on eachof said shafts. and flexible bands engaging in opposite direc tions oversaid pulleys and having a rocking contact therewith. said bandsoperating in.

the direction of their length to cause said shafts to move in unison.

4-. In an embroidering machine, a movable tambour frame, and a parallelmotion device therefor. embodying shafts each connected with differentportions of the tamhour frame, said shafts traveling with said tambourframe in one direction and stationary as to other movements of the said.frame, said shafts being adapted to be revolved by the movement of thetambour frame and means for causing said shafts to operate in unisonwhereby different portions of the tambour frame will be caused to movein parallelism.

5. In an embroidering machine, a movable tambour frame. and a parallelmotion device therefor, embodying upright shafts, stationary journalstherefor, said shafts being connected with different portions of thetambour frame and arranged to be reciprocated in their journals by themovements of the tambour frame in one direction and to be revolved bythe mo ements of the tambour frame in another direction, and means forcausing said shafts to revolve in unison whereby different portions ofthe tambour frame will be caused to move in parallelism.

6. In an embroidering machine a stationary frame, a movable tambourframe and a parallel motion device therefor, embodving journals on. saidstationary frame, upright shafts reciprocatahle in said journals, racksarranged at different vertical distances from the bottom and at or nearopposite ends of the tambour frame and movable with the latter, pinionson said shafts arranged to be operated by the horizontal movements ofthe tambour frame through said racks. means for causing said shafts toreciprocate according to the up and down movements of the tambour frameand means for causing said shafts to revolve in unison. wherebydifferent portions of the tambour frame will be caused to move inparallelism.

7. In an embroidering machine. a stationary frame, a movable tambourframe,

and means for moving the same, means for counterbalaneing the tambonrframe and for causing it to move in parallelism in its verticalmovements and means operating independently thereof for causing thetambour frame to inove in parallelism in its horizontal movements,embodying shafts, each connected with the tambour frame at differentvertical distances from the bottom thereof, said shafts being connectedwith the tambour frame at or near opposite ends thereof and adapted tocause movements in said tambour frame and to be revolved by movements ofthe tambour frame and means connecting said shafts to cause them to movein unison whereby movements of one portion of the tambour frame will beaccurately produced at other pertions thereof.

8. In an embroidering machine, a movable t ambour frame and a parallelmotion device therefor, comprising a shaft arranged substantiallyparallel with the end of the tambour frame and a plurality ofconnections between the tambour frame and said shaft, arranged atdifferent vertical distances from the bottom of the tamhour frame, saidshaft being freely revoluble by the movement of the tambour frame in itshorizontal direction, through each of said connections, said connectionscausing the movement imparted to different portions of the shaft to beaccurately reproduced at different portions of the tambour frame, saidparallel motion device being arranged to permit free vertical movementof the tambour frame.

Signed at St. Gall, in the Canton of St. Gall, Switzerland, this 26thday of March,

MORRIS SCHOENFELD. Witnesses:

CAESAR Loco, FRIEDRICH STEINER.

